Normally when I go home and my break comes to an end, I get overly emotional about leaving. Having to go back to the reality of school and work and "real life" – which are all terribly overrated, by the way – is hard! This time was especially difficult leave since I have been having such a difficult time in the city as of late (I'm okay, I promise).

But, as usual, my mom was able to calm me down and set me straight.

It's funny, because while preparing for my semester in New York, I was so nervous about whether I would hate it, and my mom was nervous that I would like it so much that I would never want to come back home. So on a fairly regular basis she would say, "it's only for five months". I'm not sure if she was saying it to comfort me or her... but that doesn't matter.

It's been just about 2.5 months since I moved here. And frankly, I am not getting as much out of the experience as I know I should be.

If I'm not at work, I'm alone in my room.

The weather has been so cold that I cry (literally) whenever I walk outside... so I avoid going outside.

I've barely eaten ANY pizza!

With only two-ish months left in the city (I'm leaving mid-May), I need to seriously switch up my mindset. I have so much that I wanted to do, and have done so little of it. I only have a few weekends/days off left that I know I need to get up and go out and actually experience the city. Because I know that it will be a week before I have to leave and I'll be crying because I didn't do or see enough.

So with that being said, I am going to make a conscious effort to make the most of my last two months.

To anyone wondering what's been going on with me lately, it's been a combination of many things – work, school, medical and personal things, etc. But don't worry! I've stockpiled a number of pictures and videos and BuzzFeed articles about cats that people have sent me......so I'm set.

I'm going to try to be better at posting. I honestly have missed writing. I want to do a lot with this blog, and it's just been a difficult time. Anyway, thank you to everyone who has messaged me or have been thinking of me.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

So quick back story: for Christmas, my mama bought 3 tickets to see Jay Leno, who was going to be doing stand-up in Rochester the weekend of Valentine's Day (it was a Christmas AND Valentine's Day gift from my mom to both my dad and me). Besides Spring Break in the beginning on March, I knew this would be one of few opportunities to go home...or go to Ithaca. And that's when I decided I would surprise all my friends at Ithaca.

Fast forward to last Friday, February 13. I jumped on a bus on 5:15AM from Port Authority headed to Rochester.

I spent Friday with my wonderful mother and my super sick (not like, "cool" but actually just very ill) dad. My mom and I caught up on some TV, ordered Mark's (I was almost in tears, people), and then we all headed off to see Jay. I wasn't definitely one of the youngest people there, but I genuinely had a great time. I feel as if I'm in between generations when it comes to The Tonight Show; I consider myself having grown up watching Jay Leno during school breaks when I could stay up late, but then again I love Jimmy Fallon and was able to watch his first show that started the new Tonight Show era. Anyway, I laughed at everything that wasn't supposed to be funny (typical) and loved cracking up with my mama.

Then it was Saturday. I was beyond excited to head to Ithaca, where only 3 people knew I was coming... I mean, I had this idea to surprise everyone in my head since the end of December and it was finally happening! I stopped very quickly to see Ryan (who knew I was coming) before heading up to my old apartment. None of my friends were home, so I quietly sat alone until people started arriving. My friend James tackled me into a chair, and my girls Lindsey and Allie had to pick up their jaws from the ground before tightly hugging me. But the surprising wouldn't be over until I showed up to a dinner date later that night.

One of my closest friends, Katie (aka KTB) turned 21 last weekend and unfortunately I wasn't able to be there to celebrate with her. The best I could do? Surprise her a week later. She cried. Her reaction will forever be in my mind, and I was so happy to be with her - and the rest of my friends - even just for 24 hours.

Truthfully, I was pretty miserable when I had to leave. I have missed Ithaca and my friends so much, and this past weekend being able to catch up with everyone was incredible. To my roommates, thank you for making time for me in your busy schedules this past weekend, and thank you for making me feel like I never left. I know that I will be back soon enough.

I know it's been a long time again since I've posted, so here's some updates!

Work has been going well...last week my supervisor went to check out venues at for an event Syfy is planning at SXSW ("South by South West", a film/TV/music festival held in Austin, TX every spring) so I was able to learn about setting up events and contacting larger companies, which is totally scary but also pretty cool. And no, I'm not actually getting to go to SXSW... I'm bummed too.

For my Art in NYC class, we went to a bunch of galleries in Chelsea last weekend. Art is weird, let me tell ya.

I got dinner with one of my closest friends and her parents last Monday before she left for New Zealand. Miss Emily (who has her own blog - check it out here) is studying abroad for the semester, and since she was flying out of JFK we made sure to get together.. she's going to have an amazing time and I can't wait to hear about her adventures!

Maddie and I had our first big bug in our room together - it was traumatic...

While I was home, my mom and I had our annual FIRST SHAMROCK SHAKE together! We always document by taking a selfie.

I've crossed some more items off my bucket list!

53. Shop at Buffalo Exchange

56. Eat a cupcake from Magnolia's Bakery

Places to Eat: Carmine's (where Emily's family and I went to eat)

Museums: National Museum of the American Indian and The Fashion Museum at FIT

Thursday, February 12, 2015

After experiencing some serious fomo (aka "Fear Of Missing Out", a somewhat new-age acronym I never thought I would experience) this past weekend, I found myself having a real tough time. I seriously, seriously missed being Upstate. I missed home, and all the things that make it "Home". But these are the Top 5 things I miss the most from Upstate.

Wegmans: I cannot stress enough how much I miss Wegmans. For everyone who knows how amazing Wegmans is (it was just voted "Best Reputation in the Nation", even over Apple and Disney!), it can be scary to think of a world without it. And now that I am living in this dark world of no Wegmans, I feel lost. New York City dwellers - or really anyone who hasn't experienced the greatness that is Wegmans - don't understand the importance of this place. They shop at their Whole Foods' or Costco's or maybe Trader Joe's, but HELLO. Wegmans literally has everything you will ever need and more. I am so lucky to have grown up surrounded by Wegmans.

Mark's Pizzeria: Okay, before I hear all the, "but New York style pizza is so good omg!!!!", just stop right there. My friends and family know that I will never turn down pizza. Any and all pizza is beautiful in my eyes (except you, Little Caesars), but Mark's is special. I grew up on Mark's. This is the pizza I know and love; the pizza sauce that runs through my veins. I miss its thick crust and perfectly melted cheese, UGH and the calzones. And don't get me started on the pizza logs and fried dough. This will be the only food I eat when I visit home (I'm serious, I already talked to my mom about it).

Driving: Tammy, my cute little 2005 Toyota Corolla, is one of my best friends. I went from driving her every single day to having to take the subway... All the terrible things people say about the subway are true. I would give anything to get in my little Tam-Tam, blast the radio, and yell at stupid drivers while I probably miss a turn somewhere.

Walking around campus: I think this can also be seen as, "I miss open spaces". Being in Central Park the other week reminded me so much of Ithaca that a wave of sadness crashed over me. I miss the grass in between buildings, the squirrels that, you know, are cute from a distance but don't try to eat food out of your hands like they do in the city, and I almost (alllllmost) miss the hills. But mostly I miss campus because of the smiling faces. People in NYC all have permanent bitch-face, myself included at this point. Plus I miss walking in areas where I don't constantly smell urine and/or garbage.

Stars: Self-explanatory.

Some runner-ups include: having a microwave in my room/having my own kitchen, quiet nights, and of course...my friends and family (and cat). Don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying this opportunity to live in NYC! Sometimes I think about my friends who are studying abroad (hi friends) and how they are living in totally different worlds and experiencing other cultures... but then I remind myself that I, too, am living in another world with its own unique atmosphere. New York City is unlike any place I've ever been to for an extended period of time. It has its perks, but I definitely miss the quaint suburban and rural areas I've come to appreciate over the past 20 years.

What is something you do (or have done) when homesick? Leave a comment!

I've got a super busy weekend ahead of me, so check back next week for an update!As always, xoxo Laurie